How to remove pfoa from drinking water?
Quick answer: PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) is a PFAS chemical found in some Australian drinking water supplies. The NHMRC has set a health-based guideline value of 200 ng/L for PFOA. At home, the Evolved H2O Advanced Tap Filter targets PFAS, the HydroX Electric Water Filter reduces Total PFAS by more than 99.22% (tested), and the Glass Water Filter Jug reduces PFAS by 98.1%.
What is PFOA and why does it matter in Australian drinking water?
PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, is one of the most studied members of the PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) family. These are synthetic chemicals that have been used in industrial and consumer products for decades. Because they break down very slowly in the environment and in the body, they have attracted significant attention from health authorities around the world, including here in Australia.
From 2023 to 2025, www.nhmrc.gov.au reviewed guidance on PFAS in drinking water as part of an update to the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. That review resulted in new and revised health-based guideline values for several PFAS compounds, including PFOA, to reduce health risks from exposure to these chemicals in Australian drinking water.
If you are concerned about PFOA in your household water, understanding the current Australian guidelines is a sensible starting point before considering any filtration option.
What are the current Australian guideline values for PFOA and related PFAS?
Australia now has individual health-based guideline values for four key PFAS compounds. These are the figures that apply today, following the 2023 to 2025 NHMRC review.
According to www.nhmrc.gov.au, the current health-based guideline values are:
- PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid): 200 ng/L
- PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid): 8 ng/L
- PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonic acid): 30 ng/L
- PFBS (perfluorobutane sulfonic acid): 1,000 ng/L
These values replaced earlier interim figures. For context, www.nhmrc.gov.au notes that in August 2018, NHMRC published health-based guideline values for three PFAS (PFOS plus PFHxS, and PFOA) in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. The previous combined guideline value of 70 ng/L for PFOS and PFHxS was a historical interim measure and has since been superseded by the separate current values listed above.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines now include revised health-based guideline values for PFOA and PFOS, a separate guideline value for PFHxS, and a new guideline value for PFBS, along with a dedicated PFAS Chemical Fact Sheet. These updates were published in June 2025 as part of the PFAS review in Australian Drinking Water.
These guideline values are set by health authorities to inform water suppliers and the public. They are not a guarantee that water below these levels is free of all concern, nor that water above them is immediately harmful. If you have specific questions about your local water supply, contact your state or territory water authority or a health professional.
Where does PFOA come from in drinking water?
PFOA and other PFAS compounds can enter drinking water supplies through a range of pathways. Industrial sites, manufacturing facilities, and the historical use of firefighting foams (particularly at airports and defence sites) are among the most commonly identified sources in Australia. Contamination can move through soil into groundwater and surface water catchments that supply drinking water.
Not all Australian households will have detectable PFAS in their tap water. Urban reticulated supplies are regularly monitored by water utilities. However, households on private bores, rainwater tanks, or supplies near known contamination sites may face a different picture. Checking with your local water authority or having your water tested is the most direct way to understand what is in your supply.
How to reduce PFOA in your drinking water at home
If you want to address PFOA and PFAS in your household drinking water, point-of-use filtration is the practical option for most Australian homes. Not every filter is designed for PFAS, which is why it matters to choose one with a specific, stated claim for this contaminant.
Three Evolved H2O products carry approved PFAS claims:
- The Evolved H2O Advanced Tap Filter targets PFAS, Heavy Metals, Microplastics and Chlorine. It fits directly to your kitchen tap, making it a straightforward everyday option for drinking and cooking water.
- The Evolved H2O HydroX Electric Water Filter reduces Total PFAS with a tested reduction of more than 99.22%. This countertop electric filter is the most advanced PFAS-focused option in the Evolved H2O range.
- The Evolved H2O Glass Water Filter Jug reduces PFAS by 98.1%. It is a glass, BPA-free jug suited to everyday filtered drinking water at home, with a simple replaceable cartridge.
Actual reduction depends on your water conditions and how the filter is used. These are not medical devices and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Which Evolved H2O option suits your situation?
The right choice depends on how you use water at home and how important PFAS reduction is to you.
- If you want PFAS reduction at the tap for drinking and cooking: the Evolved H2O Advanced Tap Filter targets PFAS and fits directly to your existing tap.
- If PFAS reduction is your primary concern and you want the highest tested performance: the HydroX Electric Water Filter reduces Total PFAS at a tested reduction of more than 99.22%.
- If you prefer a countertop jug with no plumbing required: the Glass Water Filter Jug reduces PFAS by 98.1% and uses a premium glass, plastic-free design.
Which Evolved H2O Filter Is Right for You?
Different areas of the home need different types of filtration. Use this quick guide to match the right Evolved H2O option to the water problem you are trying to solve.
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For tap drinking water
Advanced Tap Filter
Choose this if you want a compact tap filter for everyday drinking and cooking water, without changing your full plumbing setup.
View the Advanced Tap Filter -
For shower water
Advanced Shower Filter
Choose this if your main concern is chlorine taste and odour in warm shower water, or you want a simple inline filter between your shower arm and showerhead.
View the Advanced Shower Filter -
For bath water
Advanced Bath Filter
Choose this if your focus is bath water for babies, kids, or sensitive skin routines, and you want a simple option designed for bath use.
View the Advanced Bath Filter -
For fluoride-focused filtration
HydroX Electric Water Filter
Choose this if fluoride reduction is a priority. HydroX is the Evolved H2O option designed for more advanced countertop drinking-water filtration.
View the HydroX Electric Water Filter -
For everyday filtered water
Glass Water Filter Jug
Choose this if you want a glass water filter jug for everyday drinking water, with a plastic-free jug design and simple refill cartridge setup.
View the Glass Water Filter Jug
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current Australian guideline value for PFOA in drinking water?
According to www.nhmrc.gov.au, the current health-based guideline value for PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) in Australian drinking water is 200 ng/L. This value was established as part of the 2023 to 2025 NHMRC review of PFAS in drinking water and replaced earlier interim guidance.
Is PFOA the same as PFAS?
PFOA is one specific compound within the broader PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) family. PFAS is an umbrella term covering thousands of synthetic chemicals. Other commonly regulated PFAS in Australia include PFOS, PFHxS and PFBS, each with their own guideline values set by the NHMRC following the 2023 to 2025 review.
Which Evolved H2O filter reduces PFAS in drinking water?
Three Evolved H2O products carry approved PFAS claims. The Advanced Tap Filter targets PFAS, Heavy Metals, Microplastics and Chlorine. The HydroX Electric Water Filter reduces Total PFAS with a tested reduction of more than 99.22%. The Glass Water Filter Jug reduces PFAS by 98.1%. Actual reduction depends on your water conditions and how the filter is used.
Does boiling water remove PFOA?
Boiling water does not reliably address PFOA or other PFAS compounds. Because PFAS chemicals are highly stable and do not break down at normal boiling temperatures, boiling is not a recognised method for reducing them in drinking water. Point-of-use filtration with a product that carries a specific PFAS claim is the practical household approach.
Do Evolved H2O shower or bath filters reduce PFAS?
No approved PFAS claim exists for the Evolved H2O Advanced Shower Filter or the Evolved H2O Advanced Bath Filter. Those products are designed for shower and bath water respectively. For PFAS reduction in drinking water, the Advanced Tap Filter, HydroX Electric Water Filter, and Glass Water Filter Jug are the relevant options.
How do I know if my tap water contains PFOA?
The most reliable way to find out is to contact your local water utility or state water authority, who monitor reticulated supplies. If you are on a private bore, rainwater tank, or near a known contamination site, independent water testing through an accredited laboratory is the recommended step. This article does not constitute personal health or water-quality advice.
Key takeaways
- PFOA is a PFAS compound with a current Australian health-based guideline value of 200 ng/L, as set by the NHMRC following its 2023 to 2025 review.
- Australia now has separate guideline values for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS and PFBS, replacing earlier interim combined figures.
- Boiling water does not address PFOA; point-of-use filtration with a specific PFAS claim is the practical household option.
- The Evolved H2O Advanced Tap Filter targets PFAS; the HydroX Electric Water Filter reduces Total PFAS at a tested reduction of more than 99.22%; the Glass Water Filter Jug reduces PFAS by 98.1%.
- If you are unsure about your local water supply, contact your state or territory water authority or have your water independently tested.
Sources
- NHMRC Review of PFAS in Australian drinking water | NHMRC
- Questions and answers on review of PFAS in drinking water | NHMRC
- Australian Drinking Water Guidelines | NHMRC
